If not for the NCAA's rule
against first - year
FBS teams making the postseason, the Eagles were a handful of
plays away from a challenging for a spot in the New Year's Six bowl rotation, which went to Boise State.
Tulsa ranked in the top 40 in both Rushing S&P + and Passing S&P + and combined third - down conversions (20th in
FBS) with big
plays (244 gains of 10 - plus yards, 71 of 20 - plus) and a relentless tempo in a way that made the attack unstoppable
against most
teams.